Method of and machine for forming close shanks



Feb. 17, 1931. A. EPPLER 1,792,531

METHOD 0F AND MACHINE FOR- FORMING CLOSE SHANKS Filed Feb. 17, 1928 Patented Feb. 17, 1931 UNETQEB TATES ANDREW EPPLER, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T UNITED SHOE ltIACI-IIN- ERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR FORMING CLOSE SHANKS Application filed February 17, 1928.

This invention relates to methods of and machines for operating on the projecting gin is intended to mean the margin of the shoe bottom projecting outwardly beyond the shoe upper and comprising the projecting margins of the sole or soles, and of the welt or stitch-receiving upper flange if either or both be present. The term close shank is applied to a shoe the projecting margin of which, at the shank, lies close to the upper,

there being substantially no crease or opening between the stitch-receiving upper flange or welt and the upper.

The production of a close shank is particularly difficult in welt work because, in sewing the welt and outsole together, the table of the outsole-stitching machine has to enter the welt crease. The table therefore holds the crease open during the formation of each stitch and, after the stitch is set, the welt and sole tend to remain in the position in which they were placed during the sewing operation and resist being brought into close relation to the upper.

It is usual, in producing close shanks, to pound the margin of the outsole of a shoe at the shank, for example, by the use of a rotary beating tool, the shoe being upheld to the tool by the hands of the operator and being moved along to present successive portions of the margin to the tool. This work is arduous since the shoe is sustained solely by the operators hands to effect the beating action of the tool. An object of this invention is to provide a machine for this work which can be operated Without undue burden upon the operator.

In forming the close shank, the projecting margin of the shoe bottom is forced up into the curve of the shank and hence is made to assume a position in which the margin lies along a line longer than its original length and longer than it was when the parts constituting it were sewn together. To make the margin assume this position, a long and Serial No. 255,171.

severe beating operation is necessary and, eventhen, there is a tendency for the materials to react with a consequent opening of the crease between the welt and upper..

. Further objects of this invention are to provide a method of and means for treating the projecting margin of the shoe bottom after the outsole attaching operation so that it will lie against the upper without tendency to react. 1

Accordingly, with these and other objects in view, the invention. provides a novel method which, as herein exemplified, comprises supporting a portion of the projecting margin of the shoe bottom in a position away from the shoe upper, and in bending an adjacent portion of said margin out of the plane of the supported portion and toward the shoe to produce an increment of stretching of the bent portion. This operation is carried out progressively along the sole margin to stretch successive portions, the sum of the stretching increments being suflicient to permit the margin of the shoe bottom to lie in the curve of the shank without tendency to separate from the upper.

The illustrated machine, which exemplifies the invention in its machine aspect, and by the aid of which the method of the invention may be practised, comprises a memberto enter the welt crease or angle between the welt and upper and engage a portion of the margin of the shoe bottom, for example, of the welt and outsole, a member to engage a face of the margin of the sole at one side of the supported portion, that is, at a point adjacent to the supported portion but spaced therefrom lengthwise of the shoe, and means for relatively operating the members to stretch the intervening portion. In the illustrated machine, the member which engages the crease is a fixed support and the cooperating memher is a tool or hammer which is actuated to deliver a blow upon the outer face of an unsupported portion ofthe sole margin adjacent to the supported portion and to force said unsupported portion toward the shoe upper, the portion of the margin between the supported portion andtheportionto which the blow is delivered. being bent out of its original plane and stretched. The operation is repeated upon successive portions of the projecting margin lengthwise of the shoe. Thus, after the first operation, another por tion of the margin is supported and another blow is struck to bend and stretch an unstretched portion between the support and the hammer. As a result of the incremental stretchingof successive short portions of the margins, the entire margin is stretched an amount represented by the sum of the increments of stretching imparted to the successsive portions. The margin of the shank as a whole is consequently lengthened so that its edge can lie in the curve of the shank against the upper without tendency to react or draw away from it. As illustrated, the hammer is arranged for rapid positive power operation.

The illustrated machine also comprises means for forcing the stretched margin into position against the upper in the curve of the shank after the margin has been stretched, there being for this purpose a member arranged to act on a face of the sole to force the stretched margin of the sole toward the upper progressively while stretching operations are being performed on other portions of the projecting margin.

Since a portion of the projecting margin adjacent to the hammer is supported, the support substantially absorbs the force of the hammer blows and the burden on the operator in holding the work to the machine is minimized.

These and other features and aspects of the invention will appear more fully from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a side elevation of a shank stretching machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, taken from the opposite side; i

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the operating instrun'ientalities of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the operating instrumentalities of the machine showing their action upon a shoe;

F 5 is a perspective view of a shoe showing the action on a shoe of the operating instrument lities, the latter being partly in section; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation taken from the same side as Fig. 1 and showing a part of the mechanism of the machine, parts being broken away and a shoe being shown in section.

The illustrated machine for stretching the projecting margin of the shank portion of a shoe and forcing the stretched margin against the upper of a shoe to form a close edge comprises asupport 10 adapted to enter the angle between the upper and the projecting stitch-receiving upper flange or welt and to support a portion of the sole and welt against displacement toward the shoe upper. Adjacent to the welt support 10, but spaced laterally a short distance therefrom, is a. tool or hammer 12 which is vertically reciprocated to engage a portion of the sole adjacent to the supported portion and force it toward the upper, thereby causing the portion of the pro jecting margin of the shoe between the supported portion and the portion engaged by the hammer 12 to be stretched. Successive portions of the margin are thus treated progressively by moving the shoe toward the left in Fig. 4. In the rear of the hammer 12 with respect to the direction of feed of the shoe is a member 1a which engages the outer face of the margin of the sole, after it has been treated by the support and hammer to stretch it, and presses the stretched portion against the upper to close the welt crease.

The support 10 is formed as an upwardly and outwardly taperin projection of a block 16 which is fastened by a screw 18 to a projecting portion 20 of a frame 22 which is adapted to be attached to a bench or column. The outer end of the support 10 is vertically quite thin so as to enter a sharp crease between the upper and welt of a shoe and is preferably laterally inclined downwardly and toward the hammer 12, as shown in Fig. 3. This inclination enables the shoe to be held at an angle to the direction of the blow of the hammer and giy es the hammer a component of movement in the direction of the shoe edge to assist its stretching action on the potion of the welt and sole between it and the support 10. It also prevents too harsh action of the hammer on the shoe materials and enables the machine to operate conveniently in the curve of the shank portion of the shoe. The advance corner of the support 10 is rounded ed, as shown in Fig. 4, to prevent it from catching in the crease as the shoe is moved along. On the upper face of the support 10 an edge guide 24 is provided which engages the edge of the shoe sole and welt and determines the extent to which the support 10 can enter the crease. The guide 24; consists of a plate having a rounded outer end and secured by screws 26 which pass through slots in the guide 24 and are threaded into the support 10. The guide 24 can thus be adjusted to vary the length of the portion 10 which enters the welt crease. The guide insures that the shoe will be so positioned that the hammer 12 will strike the sole in proper relation to the base of the channel flap. It also prevents the thin outer edge of the support 10 from going into the crease too far and thus facilitates the feeding of the work. The hammer 12 has a shoe engaging face which is narrow length 3 wise of theshoe and is laterally rounded to prevent too harsh'treatment of the sole margin. The narrow face extends transversely of the margin of the shoe in a downward and outward direction relatively to the shoe to force the edge of the sole margin against the upper.

Repeated pounding by a smooth-surfaced tool tends to glaze leather so that cement does not stick firmly to it. Outsoles are usually channeled to provide a flange which is cemented down over the stitches holding the welt and outsole together. When the sole is channeled the operation of the machine of the present invention will be performed before the channel flap is laid down, and, if the sole engaging face of the hammer is smooth, it has a tendency to glaze the leather, thus preventing proper holding of the channel flap cement. Accordingly, in the illustrated machine, the sole engaging face of the hammer is roughened to minimize the glazing effect. As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5, the hammer face is provided with ribs 28 extending lengthwise of its face and transversely of the sole margin. The portion of the hammer face which engages the sole at the base of the channel flap and over the outsole stitches is left smooth so as not to injure the flap or stitches, it being at the outer portion of the margin of the sole that firm adhesion of the channel flap is essential.

The hammer 12 has lateral projections 30 which engage under a projecting ledge on a cylindrical plunger 32 and is secured to the plunger by a screw 34 (Fig. '6) passing through the plunger and threaded into the hammer 12. The plunger 32 is mounted in a bearing 36 and is prevented from turning by a key 38 received in a vertical groove in the bearing 36. The plunger 32 has a reduced portion 40 which enters a sleeve 42 threaded into the bearing 36. A further reduced portion 44 of the plunger passes through a suitable opening in the upper end of the sleeve 42 and is threaded to receive an adjustable clamp collar 46 which forms a stop to prevent downward movement of the plunger. The position of the hammer 12 relatively to the bearing 36 can be adjusted by turning the sleeve 42 which, for this purpose, is provided with a capstan head 50 and a set nut 52 to maintain the adjustment. This construction holds the hammer positively relatively to the bearing and enables the extent of movement of the hammer below the support 10 to be varied.

The bearing 36 is formed in the forward end of a lever 54 (Fig. 1) which is pivoted at 56 to the frame (Fig. 2) and has rearwardly extending arms 58, 60, formed as bifurcations of the lever 54. Between the arms 58, 60, a

block 62 is arranged to slide and the arms are held in bearing relation to the block by adjusting screws 64, 66. The block 62 is enner except that the operation progresses fro gaged by a crank 68 which has a small eccentricity to a shaft 70 mounted in bearings on brackets 72 extending upwardly and rearwardly from the frame 22. The shaft 70 is provided with a belt pulley 7 4. The throw trated in Fig. 1, to a position in which its F.

working face is below the support and ap proximately in horizontal alinement with the lower edge of the member 14, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

The member 14 has a vertical rib 76 which engages a guideway formed in the block 16 and is held by a screw 7 8 passing through a vertical slot 80 in the member 14 and threaded into the block 16. By loosening the screw 7 8 the vertical position of the member 14 may be adjusted.

The shoe to be operated upon may, as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, have an upper a, a stitch-receiving upper flange or welt b, an outsole c, and a channel flap (Z, the welt and outsole being secured together by a seam e. The shoe is presented to the machine so that the support 10 enters the crease between the upper and the welt or stitch-receiving upper flange at one end of the shank portion, for instance near the ball line when the side of the shoe, as illustrated'in Fig. 4, is being operated upon, the support 10 thus supporting a portion of the projecting margin of the shoe bottom, for example the outer margins of the welt and sole. The hammer 12 then operates to displace an adjacent portion of the projecting margin toward the upper, as shown particularly in Fig. 5, causing the portions of the margins of the welt and sole between the support 10 and the hammer 12 to be stretched. The shoe is moved to the left, as viewed in Fig. 4, to cause successive portions of the projecting margins of the sole and welt to be stretched, and the member 14 acts to lay the stretched portions of the margin of the sole and welt successively against the upper as the stretching operation progresses along the side of the shoe. The opposite'side of the shoe is then operated upon in the same manthe heel breast line toward the ball line. The channel fiap d, which is then cemented and laid down over the stitching e and against the stretched margin of the sole 0, helps to maintain the stretched margins of the sole and welt in close relation to the upper a.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. That improvement in methods of making shoes which consists in holding away from the upper a portion of the projecting margin of a shoe bottom including an outsole at the shank of a shoe and bending an adjacent portion of said margin including the outsole toward the shoe upper to produce an elongation of the margin of the bent portion.

2. That improvementin methods of producing close shanks which consists in supporting a portion of the projecting margin of an outsole in a position away from the shoe upper and bending an adjacent portion of the margin of the outsole out of the plane of the supported portion to produce an increment of stretching of the bent portion of the outsole.

3. That improvement in methods of producing close shanks which consists in supporting a portion of the projecting margin of an outsole in the region of the shank, and displacing another portion of the projecting margin of the outsole toward the shoe upper to cause the portion of said margin of the outsole between the supported portion and the displaced portion to be stretched.

4. That improvement in methods of producing close shanks in welt shoes having outsoles attached thereto which consists in supporting the welt in a position away from the upper and bending an adjacent portion of the outsole and welt toward the upper to elongate the margin of the bent portion of the outsole 5. That improvement in methods of producing close shanks in welt shoes having outsoles attached thereto which consists in supporting a welt in a. position away from the upper, bending adjacent portions of the out sole and welt toward the upper to elongate the margins of the bent portions, and repeating the operation on successive portions of the welt and outsole to effect elongation of the margins of the sole and welt throughout the shank portion. 7

6. That improvement in methods of making shoes having close shanks which consists in supporting a portion of the projecting margin of an attached outsole in the region of the shank, forcing a portion, spaced from the supported portion a short distance in the direction of the length of the shoe, toward the upper to effect an incremental stretching of the intervening portion, and repeating said operation progressively upon successive portions of the margin of the outsole to eff et a substantial stretching of the margin so that it will not react substantially.

7. That improvement in methods of making shoes having close shanks which consists in supporting a portion of the projecting margin of the bottom of a shoe including an attached outsole in the region of the shank, forcing a portion of said margin, spaced from the supported portion a short distance in the direction of the length of the shoe, toward the upper to effect an incremental stretching of the intervening portion, and repeating said operation progressively successive portions of the margin the sum of the stretching increments being sufiicient to produce a lengthening of the margin so that it will lie in the curved portion of the shank against the upper without substantial tendency to react.

8. That improvement in methods of producing close shanks which consists in supporting a portion of the projecting margin of a shoe bottom in a position away from the shoe upper, bending an adjacent portion of the margin out of the plane of the supported portion to produce an increment of stretching of the bent portion, and then forcing the stretched portion against the upper.

9. That improvement in methods of mak ing shoes having close shanks which consists in supporting a portion of the projecting margin of the bottom of a shoe in the region of the shank, forcing a portion, spaced from the supported portion a short distance in the direction of the length of the shoe, toward the upper to effect an incremental stretching of the intervening portion, repeating said operation progressively upon successive portions of the margin to effect a stretching of the margin so that it will not react substantially, and then laying the stretched margin against the upper.

10. In a machine for forming close shanks, the combination of a member arranged to engage and support a portion of one face of the projecting margin of the bottom of a shoe including an attached sole, a member to engage the opposite face of the projecting unsupported margin at a location disposed lengthwise of the shoe from the first member, and means for relatively operating said members to bend and stretch the portion of the margin between them.

11. In a machine for forming close shanks, the combination of a member to engage a shoe between the upper and the projecting margin of the sole, a cooperating member for engaging the outer face of the margin of the sole, the operative face of said 1ne1nber being offset lengthwise of the shoe from the operative face of the first member, and means for relatively operating the two members to bend the portion of the projecting margin located between them.

12. In a machine for forming close shanks, the combination of a support arranged to enter the crease or angle between the upper and sole of a shoe, a bending tool movable to force an unsupported portion of the sole adjacent to the supported portion toward the upper, and operating means for said tool.

13. In a machine for forming close shanks, the combination of a support arranged to enter the crease or angle between the upper and the sole of a shoe to support a portion of the sole margin, a tool arranged to engage the outer face of an unsupported portion of the sole margin adjacent to the supported portion, and means to vibrate thetool to force an unsupported portion of the sole margin toward the upper.

14. In a machine for forming close shanks, the combination of a welt support arranged to enter the welt crease of a welt shoe having an attached outsole and remain continuously in the crease as the shoe is moved along, a hammer a ranged to operate on an unsupported portion of the margin of the bottom of the outsole adjacent to the support, and means for continuously vibrating the hammer.

15. In a machine for treating the projecting margin of the bottom of a shoe having an outsole attached thereto, the combination of a support for a portion .of the projecting margin, a tool to engage another portion of said margin, the operative face of said tool being out of alinement lengthwise of the shoe with the margin engaging face of the support, and means for operating the tool to bend toward the shoe upper the portion of the margin between the support and tool.

16. In a machine for forming close shanks, the combination of a support to enter the welt crease of a shoe to support the welt, a tool for operating on the face of the outsole opposite to the welt at a location spaced lengthwise of the shoe from the support, and means for operating the too-l to bend the sole margin toward the upper.

17. In a machine for forming close shanks,

the combination of a support to enter the crease between the upper and sole of a shoe presented bottom up to the support, a hammer to strike the bottom of the sole at a loca tion laterally disposed relatively to the sup port to bend the sole t'oward the upper, and means for operating the hammer.

18. In a machine for forming close shanks, the combination of a support to enter the crease between the upper and the sole of a shoe, a hammer arranged to strike the bottom of the sole at a location disposed lengthwise of the shoe from the support to bend the sole toward the upper, and means for operating the hammer to stretch a portion of the sole between the support and hammer, the shoe being moved lengthwise to cause successive portions of the sole to be stretched.

19. In a machine for operating on the shank portions of welt shoes after the outsoles are attached to produce close shanks, the combination of a member to enter the welt crease and hold the welt away from the upper, a hammer operating on the outsole to force an adjacent portion of the welt against the upper and to effect an incremental stretching of the portion of the sole and welt between the member and the hammer, the shoe being advanced lengthwise to effect incremental stretching of successive portions of the sole and welt, and means for imparting rapidly repeated positive impulses to the hammer.

a portion of the welt and sole, a hammer arranged to beat an adjacent portion of the sole and welt toward the upper, and means for operating the hammer, the shoe being fed along the supportto present successive portions of the margins of the sole and welt to the action of the hammer and the portion of the support entering the welt crease being rounded off on the side remote from the hammer to facilitate the feeding of the shoe.

22. In a machine for forming close shanks, the combination of a welt support comprising a thin blade laterally inclined conveniently to enter the welt crease of a shoe in the curved portion of the shank, a hammer operating in a vertical plane located at one side of the welt support to engage the outer face of the margin of the sole and bendit toward the upper, and means for operating the hammer.

i 23. In a machine for forming close shanks, the. combination of a hammer, a support to enter the shoe in .the welt crease to support a welt and outsole in a location at one side of the hammer, the welt support being inclined downwardly toward the hammer to permit the shoe to be held at an angle to the direction of the blow of the hammer, and means for operating the hammer to stretch a portion of the sole and welt between the hammer and the support, the hammer having a component of movement lengthwise of the shoe to assist its stretching action.

24:. In a machine for forming close shanks, the combination of a welt support to enter the welt crease of a shoe, a guide on the support to limit the extent to which the support can enter the welt crease by engagement with the edge of the welt and sole, a hammer to engage the outer face of the margin of the sole at alocation disposed laterally with respect to the support, and means for operating the hammer.

25. In a machine for forming close shanks, the combination of a welt support to enter the welt crease of a shoe, a guide on the support to limit by engagement with the edge of the welt and sole the extent to which the support can enter the welt crease, said guide being arranged for adjustment toward and from the end of the support which enters the welt crease, a hammer to engage the tread face of the margin of the sole at a location disposed laterally with respect to the support, and means for operating the hammer.

26. In a machine for forming close shanks, the combination of a support adapted to enter'the welt crease of a shoe, a hammer to engage the margin of the outsole at a location disposed lengthwise of the shoe with respect to the work support, the acting face of the hammer being narrow lengthwise of the sole margin and being disposed at a downward and outward inclination with respect to the shoe to force the margins of the sole and welt toward the upper and to stretch the portions of the margins of the sole and the welt located between the support and the hammer.

27. In a machine for forming close shanks, the combination of a support adapted to enter the welt crease of a shoe and sustain sole and welt, a hammer arranged to engage the margin of the sole from the base of the channel flap outwardly, the portion'of the face of the hammer engaging the margin of the sole outside of the outsole stitches be ing roughened to prevent glazing of the margin of the outsole, and means for operating the hammer.

28. In a machine for forming close shanks, the combination of a support adapted to enter the welt crease of a shoe and sustain a portion of the projecting margins of the sole and welt,'a hammer having a narrow face extending transversely of the sole margin and arranged to engage the margin of the sole from the base of the channel flap outwardly, the portion of the face of the hammer engaging the margin of the sole outside of the outsole stitches having ribs extending lengthwise of its face to prevent glazing of the outsole, and means for operating the hammer.

29. In a machine for forming close shanks, the combination of a support adapted to enter the welt crease of a shoe and sustain a U portion of the projecting margins of the sole r smooth, and means for operating the hammer.

80. In a machine for forming close shanks, the combination of a support adapted to enter the welt crease of a shoe and sustain a portion of the projecting margins of the sole and welt, a hammer having a narrow face eX- tending transversely of the sole margin and arranged to engage the marginof the sole from the base of the channel flap outwardly, the portion of the face of the hammer engaging the margin ofthe sole outside of the outsole stitches having ribs extending longitudinally of the-hammer faceto prevent glazing of the margin of the outsole and the portion of the hammer face'engaging the stitches being smooth, and means for operating the hammer.

31. In a machine forforming close shanks, the combination of a support to enter the welt crease of ashoe to support the welt, a toolfor operating onthe 'face' of the tool opposite to the welt at a location spaced lengthwise of'the shoe from the support, means for positively operating'the tool to bend the sole margin toward the upper, and means for adjusting the tool to vary the limit of its working stroke.-

32; In a machine for'forming close shanks, thecombi'nation of means for operating on successive portions of the projecting margin of the bottom of a shoe to produce incremental stretching of said portions, and means for forcing" the stretched margin against the upper.

33. In a machine for forming close shanks, the combination of' a member to support a portion of the projecting margin of the bottom of a shoe, means for bending an adjacent portion of the margin out of the plane of the supported portion and toward the upper to stretch the interveningportion, and means for-forcing the stretched portion against the upper.

34. In a machine for forming close shanks, the combination of a support to enter the creasebetwecn the upper and thesole'of a shoe, a hammer arranged to strike the bottom of the sole at a location disposed lengthwise of the shoe from the support to bend the sole toward theupper, means for operating the hammer 'tostretch a portion of the sole between the support and hammer, the shoe being moved lengthwise to cause successive portions of thesole to be stretched, and a member engaging the outer face of-the sole margin and operating as the shoe is moved to force the stretched margin of the sole towardthe upper.

35-. Ina. machine'for operating on the shank portions of welt shoes after the outsol-es are attached to produce close shanks, the combination of a member to enter the welt crease and hold the welt away from the upper, a hammer operating on the outsole to force the adjacentportion of the welt against the upper and to effect an incremental stretching of the portion of the sole and welt between the member and the hammer, the shoe being advanced lengthwise to effect incremental stretching of successive portions of the sole and welt, means for imparting rapidly repeated positive impulses to the hammer, and means to forcethe stretched sole and welt toward the upper to close thewelt crease.

36. In a machine for forming close shanks,

the combination of means for operating on successive portions of the projecting margin of the bottoming materials of a shoe to produce incremental stretching of said portions, and a member engaging the stretched margin to lay it against the upper, said member being arranged for adjustment toward and from the shoe.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ANDREWV EPPLER.

CERTIFEGATE 0F CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,792,531. Granted February 17, 1931, to

ANDREW EPPLER.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as foiiows: Page 2, line 105, for the misspelled word "potion" read portion; page 4, line 63, claim 7, after the word "progressively" insert the word upon; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of July, A. D. 1931.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

